| Tanintharyi region | |
 | |
Location  | |
Flag  | |
| State | Burma |
|---|---|
| Capital | Tavoy |
| Surface | 43,328 km² |
| Inhabitants | 1.650.982 (2012 estimate) |
Tanintharyi region, known by its former name of "Tenasserim", is an administrative division of the Burma located in the extreme southeast of the country, squeezed between the Thailand and the Bay of Bengal.
To know
Geographical notes
It borders the Andaman Sea to the west, with the Thailand to the east and to the south, and with the State Mon North. The capital of the division is Dawei (Tavoy). Other important cities are Mergui in the center and Kawthaung, located in the southernmost point of the whole of Burma.
Background
The area was part of the Thai kingdoms of Sukhothai and Ayutthaya to become part of the kingdom of Burma in the early 19th century. Following the 1826 Treaty of Yandaboo which ended the First Anglo-Burmese War, Tenasserim came under the control of the British East India Company.
Several years after Burma's independence the northeastern part of Tenasserim was assigned to Karen state (or Kayin state). In 1974 the north-western part was also removed which served to create it State Mon. Since the then capital Moulmein came to be in the new state, the role of administrative center of the division was assigned to the city of Tavoy. In 1989 the mutilated division was given the new name of the Tanintharyi region.
Territories and tourist destinations
The administration is divided into the 3 districts of Kawthaung, Mergui and Dawei, which in turn are divided into 10 townships.
Urban centers
- Tavoy (Dawei) - Administrative capital with old houses in carved wood and a statue of the reclining Buddha of 75 meters in length.
- Kawthoung (Victoria Point at the time of the English domination) - Small port in the far south of the Burma, on the Pakchan River estuary which marks the border with Thailand. It can be reached more easily from the port of Ranong, located across the border.
- Myeik (or Mergui or Beik) - Second most important city, located further south of the capital.
Other destinations
- Mergui Archipelago (Myeik Kyunzu) - A still virgin paradise inhabited by a people who practice itinerant fishing and for this reason designated with the name of "gypsies of the sea". The islands are visited with small motoryachts that generally depart from Phuket. The cruises are organized by Thai but also Italian tour operators.
How to get
By plane
Myeik still has an international airport but then you won't be able to move much.
Basically only Kawthoung and theMergui Archipelago can be reached without problems by sailing from Ranong or Phuket (both in Thailand) and participating in trips organized by both Thai and Italian tour operators.
By bus
Traveling by bus is dangerous due to the presence of guerrillas and brigands along the road.
How to get around
What see
What to do
At the table
Safety
Trying to move from one location in Tanintharyi to another using a bus or any other means of transport on wheels can be very dangerous due to the numerous brigands or guerrillas who infest the highway 8 and often rob passengers.
Other projects
Wikipedia contains an entry concerning Tanintharyi region
Commons contains images or other files on Tanintharyi region
